1889 Consolidation of Camp and Post Systems
Sons of Veterans of the United States of America
Between George W. Marks, Commander-in-Chief, representing the Post System Sons of Veterans, and George B. Abbott, Commander-in-Chief, representing the Camp System, Sons of Veterans, Chicago, Ill., February 25th, 1889:
I. That the Commandery-in-Chief of the Post System shall be vested in the Commandery-in-Chief of the Camp System.
II. That the command and control of the Division of New York shall be placed under the command of the Department of New York, Sons of Veterans Post System and all property thereunto belonging.
III. That the Departments of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Sons of Veterans, shall be placed under the control and command of the officers of the Division of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, respectively of the Camp System and all property thereupon belonging.
IV. That all elective officers surrendering their command, in compliance with the foregoing shall receive the full benefit of past honors.
V. All past officers of the Post System shall be granted the same honors, privileges and prerogatives that are granted corresponding officers of the Camp System. The Constitution, Rules & Regulations of the Camp System taken as a basis of authority.
VI. That in compliance with the official dictum of the G.A.R., the Sons of Veterans, USA shall adopt the fraternal greeting of "Comrade", shall adopt the official titles of the G.A.R. and the insignia of rank of the Post System, Sons of Veterans.
VII. That the official membership badge shall be that heretofore worn by the Camp System, Sons of Veterans and the Charter for subordinate organizations shall be that of the Camp System, Sons of Veterans.
VIII. It is further agreed that the organizations of the Post System shall have the following numbers:
1, 5 ,7, 8 ,9, 12, 13 14, 16, 17, 19 20 21 22 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 36, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48 49, 50, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 64, 65 68, 69, 71, 72, 74, 75, 78, 80, 82, 84, 85, 87, 91, 93, 94, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129.That those organizations of the Camp System shall retain the following numbers:
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 15, 18, 26, 31, 33, 35, 37, 38, 42, 44, 51, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 66, 67, 70, 73, 76, 77, 79, 81, 83, 86, 88, 90, 92, 95, 96, 100, 118, 20, 122, 124 and 140.IX. It is further agreed that the ensuing Division Encampment of New York shall be held in Peekskill before July 10, 1889.
X. The Consolidated Organization shall be subject to the Constitution, Rules & Regulations of the Sons of Veterans, USA except where conflicting with the articles of the foregoing agreement, which shall be paramount, with the further exceptions of the article of agreement entered upon by the joint committee of the two organizations agreed to in the city of New York, November 17, 1888. It is further agreed that the organizations heretofore of the Post System may continue, if they so elect, to conduct their ceremonies of initiation according to the Ritual of the Post System, until the promulgation of the Ritual adopted by the Commandery-in-Chief, USA at its Eighth Annual Encampment, except that in its obligation, it shall strike out the word "Department" and insert therefor the word "Order" and shall insert before the words "Rules and Regulations" the word "Constitution" and furthermore, they shall employ the password and countersigns, signs of recognition, distress and grip of the Sons of Veterans, USA.
XI. It is further agreed that those heretofore Comrades of the Post System, Sons of Veterans, may continue to wear the membership badge of the organization, if they so elect. or may exchange the same for the membership badge of the Camp System upon terms hereafter agreed upon, but those mustered in after the promulgation of this agreement shall receive the regulation membership badge of the Sons of Veterans, USA with the appropriate ceremonies thereto attending. It is further agreed that the Commander-in-Chief, George W. Marks, and such others as he may designate, may be empowered to administer to such Posts, or Comrades of Posts of Sons of Veterans, consenting to comply with the foregoing agreement, the obligation of the consolidated organization, who shall, from the time of receiving said obligation, enter upon and enjoy all the privileges of the Sons of Veterans USA and be subject to all its laws and regulations.
XII. That the Charters of all Posts of Sons of Veterans heretofore issued and maintained according to the laws of the Post System Sons of Veterans shall be considered in force and being by all instituted authority of the Sons of Veterans USA, the original Charter of the Post System being returned after cancellation.
XIII. It is further agreed that the present forms and blanks of each organization shall be used until the present supply is exhausted.
XIV. It is agreed that the number of any Camp or Post refusing to accept of the terms of the consolidation within twenty days from the date of its promulgation, shall be given to the organization that will comply.
XV. In conformity to the unanimous sentiment of the joint committee of both organizations in session in New York November 17, 1888, it is agreed that for the ensuing two years from the next Encampment of the Division of New York that should the Commander elect have been a Comrade of what is now known as the Post System that the Senior Vice shall be one selected from among those who are members of what is now known as the Camp System, Sons of Veterans, and vice versa and then the following year the election of these two officers shall be the reverse of the proceeding year.
XVI. In the Division of New Jersey, the Post System will retain the numbers 1, 6, 10, 14, 17, 19, 28, 29. The Camp System will retain the numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27.
Accepted and agreed to:
George W. Marks, Commander-in-Chief, Post System, SOV
G.B. Abbott, Commander-in-Chief, Camp System, SOV, USA
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